Door check and closer



mm 1, 19350 E. BOMMER 2,015,989

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Original Filed Jan. 4, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E221 i Z B0722 nzer Oct. 1, 1935. E, BOMMER 2,015,989

' DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Original Filed Jan. 4, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l i 11 m 11 119 gig-7 115 .s

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7; 254 V iz sjwmwor 7 Emz'lfianme? E. BOMMER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Original Filed Jan. 4, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ttorneg Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Original application January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,091. Divided and this application May 21, 1934, Serial No. 726,752

9 Claims.

This invention relates to door checks and closers of the type embodied in hinges for the doors, and the object of the invention is to improve generally in the construction and operation of devices of this character.

The door check and closer hinge of my present invention is intended more particularly for use in connection with lavatory and similar doors which are supported from stiles, although the invention is not confined to this class of doors.

An object of the invention is to provide improved automatically operated mechanisms for closing and checking the closing movement of lavatory and similar doors. My improved mechanisms are of the type employing expansile door closing springs, the expanding actions of which are opposed by suitable checking medium such as oil.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel spindle and plunger arrangement, with means whereby as the spindle rotates with the door which it supports, the plunger will be caused to move axially along the spindle; and further to provide in connection with this arrangement a valve regulated relief port by means of which to effect a quiet and substantially silent stop of the door at its terminal of closing movement, with the relief port and its regulating valve so located that this valve is accessible for regulation from the outside of the casing. This type of construction is regulatable so as to provide for effectually relieving shocks and strains and hence for eliminating the breaking of parts upon the plunger meeting resistance due to attempts to force the closing of the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing the escape around the spindle of checking oil to the outside of the casing while at the same time providing for the lubrication of the spindle in its bearing.

This application is a division of my copending application for patent, filed on January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,091, for a Door check and closer.

Portions of the subject matter of the present in vention are also described in and certain novel features of the invention herein described, but not herein claimed, are claimed in said application for patent Serial No. 650,091.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown two more or less variant examples of the invention.

Fig. e is a central vertical sectional view taken 10 on the line -'i4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the center post which supports the spindle and on which the plunger has sliding movement;

Fig. 6 is'a vertical sectional view showing an- 15 other embodiment of my door check and closer hinge, and showing also in connection therewith the edge plate for connecting the upper portion of the hinge spindle with the door;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 20 1-! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the plunger cam;

cam;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 represents another elevational View of the plunger cam, showing the same turned to a position in which the observer can see the port which leads to the tapered flat portion of the spindle;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l2|2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of the inner portion of the top screw cap closure;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the screw valve and sleeve for regulating the flow of oil through the port in the lower portion of the spindle;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the spindle;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spindle showing the tapering flattened region provided on the cylindrical portion thereof;

Fig. 1'7 is a plan view of the edge attaching plate for the door; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view showing the opposite face of the edge attaching plate.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying 5 drawings, and first to the example illustrated in Figs. 1 to- 5,-inclusive, 20 indicates an elongated casing which is provided longitudinally along one side with two integral leaves or plates 2| adapted to engage the opposite sides of a stile Fig. 9 is an underneath plan view of the plunger 22 entered in a bight 23' between the two plates. On being attached to the stile, this casing occupies a vertical position for the supportof a swinging door of the lavatory type. This casing is made with a cylindrical interior space 24 the lower end of which is closed by a bottom closure or endapiece 25 which is secured in any suitable manner liquid-tight; to. the casing. A top cap it closes the hollow interior at the upper end thereof, this cap for assembly and disassembly purposes being suitably screw-threaded at 21 to the casing.

28 denotes in general a vertically disposed spindle, the lower portion;29 of which hasturning fit in a socket 313 provided in'the top end of a Vertically disposed center post 3|, while the upper end of the spindle is journale'd for rotation in, a bearing 32 provided in the top screw cap closure 26. Said vertical center post 3| has a reduced lower portion 33 which fits inan opening 34 provided for the purpose in the bottom closure 25. This center post is a stationary element and is made fast with the bottom closure *25by means of a screw 35 fitted in the downwardly extending nose '38 of said bottom closure and threadably engagedat 3? in an axial recess provided in the reduced portion 33. A pinch screw 38 threaded laterally through the nose 33 so as' to engage a recess-39 in the reduced portion33 may be employed as additionalmeans whereby rigidly to secure the vertical center post with the bottom closure. ,Because of the provision of the reduced portion 33 on the center post, there results thereon an annular shoulder it which is drawn. tightly against the inner face'of the ,bottomclosure when the screw 35 is tightene'd, this tightening operation, being effected prior to turning the pinch screw 35 into engagement with itsseat 39. It is in place to point out here thattherscre w *35 should be provided with a right-hand thread when it is to be used with a door operated from the right-hand side and witha-left-handthread if the door is to be operated from the left-hand side. If the screwis threaded in'this manner to suit the operation of the door,'its tendency is to tighten under the opening thrust of the door and no pinch screw or equivalent device is necessary in order to keep it from. working loose.

Aswill be evident'to those familiar with the art, a function of the spindle 28 is to support the doorand toturn therewith, and in' view" of this function suitable ball bearings or anti-friction 'deviceso l' are provided between the lower end of the spindle portion 29 and the socket bottom in the vertical center post 3!, whereby to facilitate turning of the spindle within the socket. Just above" the top end of the center post, the spindle is;furnished with a spirally threaded portion GZ, and having threaded engagement with the threads of this portion is a plunger element :43 the lower-portion of which has vertically-reciprocatory movement upon the center post 3!. The center; post serves as guiding means for the vertically-reciprocatory operation of the plunger, and to this end it will be seen from an inspection of -Fig. that the exterior M of said post is substantially of square formation, and that the interior-of'theplunger below its screw-threaded region 45 is of a corresponding square formation at*46,as shown in Figs., 3 and 4. ,The substantially square formations of the post and plunger may include respectively flattened corners M and'dfi. By this arrangement, when thespindle is turned by the opening movement of the, door,

during the opening of the door, this spring is for instance, in the direction of the arrow 41, the plunger will be moved vertically in a straight line, and upon the reverse turning of the spindle, which reverse movement takes place upon the closing movement of the door, the plunger will 5 move downwardly in a straight line.

A coiled expansible spring-:48 is imprisoned between the head 49 of.the plunger and the top screw cap 28. As the plunger moves upwardly compressed, so that upon the release of the door for closing movement, the spring in. expanding will ioroe the plunger downwardly, thereby ef fecting reverse movement of the spindle and hence the closing, movement of the door.

As is usual with door checks and closers of this a character, the downward movement of the plunger is opposed by liquid pressure, for instance, oil occupying the chamber 50 below the plunger head, the liquid pressure resisting or opposing the expanding action of the spring and thereby checking the closing movement of the door. For'the relief ofthe oil pressure to permit the downward movement of the plunger,

there is provided an oil passage 5| having an intake port 52 in communication with the lower portion of the chamber 50 and an .ou'tletport 53' in communication with the chamber 54 at the upper side of the plunger head. To permit. the oil to pass from thechamber 54 at the upper side of the plunger head to the chamber 50 at,the lower sidethereof during the upward movement of theplunger, suitable one-way escape valves 55, thesa-me being ball valves of a well-known type, are provided in the plunger as illustrated in'Fig. 4. The flow. of oil through the passage 5! is controlled by a regulator screw valve '56 which is arranged so as to be accessible from the outside of the casing for its manipulation. This regulator valve has screw-threaded engagement witha'gland -nut,5| which is threaded into a cavity '58, so as to retain therein around the valve stem, suitable packing 59 forpreventing the escape'of oil. r

According to an important feature of this arrangement, there is provided a further relief passagetfi which extends transversely through the squared portion :44 of the centerpost'adjacent theshoulder 40. One open end of this passage is closed bya screw 6| while the opposite end thereof is normally closed by aball valve 62, there being a coiled compression spring Blimprisonedbetween the screw'fil and ball valve 62. In communication with the passage 60 .isa vertically extending channel'53 which feeds to the intersticesof the cooperating screw-threads betweenthe spindle and plunger, and it will be noted that this passage at its lower end is normally closed by the ball valve 62. Said passages 61! and 53 are so arranged that-the ball valve 52 is seated'in a position in which it is exposed directly to fluid pressure and so as to be moved from its seat inwardly into the passage 60 when the fluid pressure exertsforce sufficient to overcome the resistance of the compression spring 6 I 65 On'beingmoved inwardly of the passage 69,;the ballvalve 62 opens the way for oilto pass around it into'the passage53 and thence'to the spiral threads between the plunger and spindle. -As the plunger moves downwardly into its lower terminal of movement, or door closing position; it crosses theintake port 52 and the "ball valve 62, exposed in part'somewhat lower than the port 52, provides such relief for the oil pressure as will permitthe door to have a quiet and sub stantially silent stop. The provision of the ball valve 62 also serves another purpose in that if it be attempted by manual operation to effect sudden closing movement of the door, the resulting sudden resistance of the liquid pressure force will overcome the opposition of the spring 6| so as to permit unseating of the valve 62 for the escape of oil in the passage 63.

According to another important feature of my invention, the top screw cap closure 28 is constructed at its inner end so as to parry the force or the oil pressure and prevent leakage to the outside of the casing. The means for this purpose consists in providing an annular channel 64 in the bearing surrounding the spindle, and further in providing a plurality of spaced ducts 65 which lead from the inner end 66 of the bearing to said annular channel 64. The top or outer end of the cap closure 26 is provided around the spindle with a recess 6'! in which is disposed suitable packing 68 held in place by an outer seal or gland nut 69 which is screw-threaded into the recess.

7 Under this arrangement, the ducts 65 in connection with the annular channel 64 serve as means for parrying and thereby destroying the force of liquid pressure exerted against the bearing, so that although suflicient oil will seep into the crevice between the bearing and spindle for keeping the spindle oiled, yet there will not be liquid pressure suflicient to force a leakage of oil through the stufilng box sealed by the gland nut.

While I have herein shown and described cooperating substantially square portions between the center post and plunger whereby to cause the plunger, when operated by the screw spindle to have vertical or axial movement, it will be recognized that in the practice of the invention, angular guiding forms or devices other than the square forms illustrated may be employed to obtain the same result. It may be remarked at this point that the screw threads between the spindle and plunger may be spiralled so as to adapt the hinge for a right-hand door, and that, on the contrary, they may be able to adapt the hinge for use with a left-hand door. In this embodiment it will be observed that the coiled expansile spring 48, imprisoned between the top cap closure and the vertically-reoiprocatory plunger does not have a bodily rotary movement, but on the opening movement of the door is simply compressed by the upward travel of the plunger, and, when the opened or partially opened door is released, has a downwardly acting tension for moving the plunger downwardly against the opposing oil pressure for effecting the closing of the door.

The bottom closure 25, if a separate member as herein shown, should be made rigid with the casing, and the vertical central post should be secured rigidly to said bottom closure. Manifestly, the purpose of so securing the bottom closure and center post is to prevent any movement of these parts relatively to the casing. The protruding end 69 of the screw spindle is preferably made in substantially square form for cooperation with the door edge attaching plate of novel construction and utility, as will be explained in connection with the second example of my invention now to be described.

Referring in detail to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 16, inclusive, it will be seen that the vertical spindle, indicated generally by the reference character It, has its lower end rotatably fitting in a socket H provided in the bottom closure 12, suitable ball bearing devices 13 being interposed between the lower end of the spindle and the bottom of said socket. The opposite end of the spindle extends through the bearing 14 provided in the top screw cap closure 15, the said bearing 14 at its inner end being provided with ducts 16 leading to an inner annular channel Tl whereby for the purpose of preventing leakage, to parry the force of oil pressure as in the form of the invention hereinbefore described. Provided in the lower portion of this spindle is an axial bore or passage 18 in which is received the stem 19 of a regulator valve, the head 83 of which is threaded into a gland nu-t 8!, which in turn is threaded in the bottom closure against packing 82 surrounding the stem 19.

Below its cylindrical portion 83 which is journaled in the bearing M, the spindle It is made with an elongated portion 84 of angular form in cross section, this portion in the present instance being four-sided, and at the juncture of the portions 83 and 84 there is a shoulder 35 which turns against the inner face of the bearing l4. Below the angular portion 84, said spindle has an enlarged cylindrical portion 86, and at the juncture of the portions 84 and 86 there is a shoulder 81. Adjoining the shoulder 81, the cylindrical portion is made with tapered faces 88 of which there is one for each flat face of the angular portion 84. In communication with the passage 18 are lower and upper lateral ports 89 and 90, the first-named being located adjacent the inner face of the bottom closure i2 so as to be covered and uncovered by a sleeve 9! rotatably carried on the reduced inner end portion 92 of the screw stem 19. This arrangement is such that the sleeve 9| turns freely upon the screw stem with the turning of the spindle and by adjusting the screw 80, the sleeve may be used as an instrumentality of controlling the flow of liquid from the port 89 to the passage 18.

Arranged to cooperate with the spindle It for actuation thereby is a plunger cam 93 the upper interior 53 of which is made in a four-sided configuration in agreement with the four-sided spindle portion 84, while the lower interior portion 93, has a cylindrical form which fits on the cylindrical portion 86 of the spindle. As shown in Fig. 10, the upper and lower interior portions 93 and 93 are separated by a shoulder 33o. adapted to cooperate with the shoulder 81 of the spindle whereby to limit the downward movement of the plunger cam upon the spindle. By this arrangement, when the spindle is turned the plunger cam turns with it while at the same time the latter can be moved longitudinally of the spindle. This plunger cam is made with a spiral portion 94 forming lower and upper cam tracks 94 and 94 both curving spirally from a high point 95 to a low point Q5. Arranged to turn on the lower spiral track an is a roller 9'! carried by a stem 9'5 on plug 98 screw-threaded into the casing wall as. A stud use engages the upper spiral cam track 94", said stud being formed on a screw I00 threaded into said wall 99. A coiled expansile spring It! is imprisoned between the plunger cam 53 and a collar H22 rotatably fitting around the cylindrically formed bearing M. A suitable ball bearing or anti-friction device E63 is disposed between the collar lilZ and inner face of the top screw cap closure, as shown in Fig. 6. The lower end of the coiled spring fits in a seat I94 provided for the purpose between the spiral portion 94 and plunger cam body. With the parts arranged in this manner, when the spindle turns with the opening movement of the door,

theplunger cam 'turns'with itiand isielevated by reason of the engagement of the roller 91 with the lower spiral track 84. Because of the provision of the rotatable collar'l fl2,the coiled spring rotates with the plunger cam while being compressed under the elevating movement of the same.

As'be'st :shown'in Figs. 6, 15 and 16, the cylindricalportion 86 of the spindleis provided with a tapered fiat IE5 between the outer ends of the ports 89 and iiil, the tapering of this flat being inwardly of the cylindrical portion toward the port 99 and terminating'inone of the cut-away portions83 adjacent the-shoulder'8'l. The plunger cam has a port I56 which provides communication between the space resulting from the provision or the tapered flat and the oil pressure chamber-above the plunger. The upper port 9c in the spindle provides communication between the ..passage-i5 and the space of the tapered flat when -the-plunger cam is moved upwardly from itslower terminal of movement, and the lower port'tl provides communication between the passage 58 and the oil pressure chamber below the plunger cam when the latter moves from its lower terminal of movement. As the spindle is turned at the opening movement of the door the oil orchecking medium flows from the chamber above the plunger cam to'the chamber therebelow through one-way escape valves I61 of well-known construction. Whenby the downwardly acting tension of the coiled spring IEII, the plunger carn is'forced downwardly against the resistance of oil pressure in the chamber below the plunger cam, the checking oil escapes through the port 89, passage 78, port til, the space afforded by the tapered flat, and thence out through the port I06. Owing to the provision of the tapered fiat, as the plunger cam descends, the escape of the checking oil is gradually restricted until as shown in Fig. l, the ports 89 and 96 are substantially covered at the lower terminal of-movementoi'the plunger cam, the purpose-and-advantage of this entire arrangement being to'provide aquiet, silent stop for the door. By the adjustment of the regulator screw 8d the reliefof the pressure fluid can be regulated so as to make effective either relatively fast or relatively slow closing movement of the door; and it will be noted in this connection that the arrangement of parts is such that the regulator screw canbe manipulated from the outside of the casing. In order, in addition tothe quiet, silent stopaction accomplished by this arrangement, to provide for full closure of the door, the plunger cam is furnished with a vertical'bo-re I68 having-a ball seat and port IQS incommunication with the lower chamber. A ball valve I Iil is normally forced to'this seat by a coiled spring III which is, imprisoned in the bore 5% between the ball valve Hi! and a screw pin IIZ threaded into the top end of the bore. As the plunger cam reaches or isabout to reach its lowerterminal of movement, any excessive checking fiuid pressure in the lower chamber will unseat the ball valve {I l'B-and permit escape of oil into the bore I58 and thence through a very shallow port I53 which passes by the head of the screw pin H2. Another advantage results from the provision of the ball valve Iii! in this, that if the attempt be made to close the door forcibly and with a sudden jerk, this ball valve will be unseated'permitting pressure relief.

In the use of door checks and closers,'much difficulty is experienced in closing the door toa position in which it'will be properly aligned with the stile upon which the door is mounted "for swinging movement. In order automatically to effect alignment of the door withits stile, I provide a novel door edge attaching plate or'fixture I'I4. As shown in Fig. 6, this plate extends longitudinally of the door underneath the lower edge thereof and it is provided with a boss I I5 which extends equal distances from the oppositeufaces I I6 and II! of the plate. In this boss is provided a square opening IIB of a size to snugly receive the squared upper end portion I I9 of the spindle. The novel feature of this arrangement is that the square opening H8 is so made in the boss that at one side of the plate, for instance the side H6, the diametrically opposite angular cor- 'ners I26 and Ill will lie at opposite sides'o'f'a vertical plane paralleling thelength of the-plate to give an engaged spindle a door closing :lead in the direction tending to align the door with-its stile. In Fig. 17, the diametrically oppositecorners I20 and I2I are'illustrated as lying in a plane I22 intersecting at an acute angle the vertical plane I 23 which is parallel'with'the longitudinal sides of the plate. With this sidecentering of diametrically opposite corners, 'the door instead of standing slightly ajar, is forced ahead for alignment with its stile a distance substantially equal to'that of the'leadcornerfrom the line I23. This door edge plate IIlmay be used with equal eiiiciency for either right-hand doors or left-hand doors, since, as will be evident from a comparison of Figs. 17 and 18, by'inVerting the plate, the positions of'the diametrically opposite corners will be reversed, bringing the trailing corner from the line I23 into the-lead from said line.

In the form of my device having the plunger cam 93 with spiral tracks from ahigh point 95 to a low point 96, a movement of the spindle through a full circle of "360 degrees may be had without any possible injury to the actuating parts. This form of the device, therefore, may be used either in connection with single or double acting doors.

While 'I have illustrated and described my invention as taking certain selected forms, it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the particular forms of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to theparticular details set forth or to thegparticular forms of construction, but consider myself atliberty to make such changes and alterations asfairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door check andcloser having a spring urged plunger moving against checking fluid in a chamber, a door supporting spindle engaged by the plunger to be turned thereby for closing the door; and means within the spindle for regulating the checkingfiuid comprising amain outlet and a valved outlet for the chamberghaving arrangement so that as the main outlet is covered by the moving plunger the valve of the valved outlet will be actuated by the fiuidpressure.

2. A door check and closer comprising, in combination, a casing, a door supporting spindle. and a plunger cam within the casing-the plunger cam acting to turn the spindle and having axial movement thereon, a rolleron the casing engaging the'plunger cam to cause axial movement of the latter upon the spindle, anda door closing spring acting on theplunger cam, said Spring bination, a casing, a door supporting spindle and a plunger cam within the casing, the plunger cam acting to turn the spindle and having axial movement thereon, a roller on the casing engaging the plunger to cause axial movement of the latter upon the spindle, a rotatable collar surrounding the spindle, a door closing spring imprisoned between said collar and plunger cam, said collar and spring being positioned to turn with the turning movement of the plunger cam.

4. A door check and closer having a spring urged plunger cam moving against checking fluid in a chamber, a doorsupporting spindle engaged by the plunger to be turned thereby for closing the door, means engaging the plunger cam for causing rotation thereof, and means for regulating the checking fluid comprising a gradually tapering restricted space between the spindle and plunger cam, a passage in the spindle having an intake port communicating with the chamber below the plunger cam and an outlet port communicating with said restricted space, and an outlet for said restricted space leading to the chamber above the plunger cam.

5.111 a door check and closer including a checking fluid chamber, the combination of a door supporting spindle and plunger forming between them a checking fluid space which is gradually restricted as the plunger moves to its door closing terminal position, said spindle having a passage with an inlet port for communicat-ing with the chamber in front of the plunger and an outlet port communicating with said space, an outlet from said space through the plunger communicating with the chamber behind the plunger, a regulator valve extending into said passage and having a part turning with the spindle and commanding the inlet port, said plunger being adapted to cover both said inlet and outlet ports as it moves into its door closing terminal position, and a valved port in the phmger for relieving excess checking fluid pressure in front of the plunger.

6. In a door check and closer, the combination of a door supporting spindle having a portion of angular form in exterior outline, a plunger having an interior portion of angular outline fitting the angular form of the spindle for axial sliding movement thereon, providing for the turning of the plunger and spindle together whle permitting axial movement of the plunger along the spindle, a spiral portion on the plunger forming upper and lower cam tracks spiralling on either side of the plunger from a high point to a low point, and members engaging said upper and lower cam tracks to force turning of the plunger and adapted to pass over said high and low points, a freely rotatable collar, and a door closing spring imprisoned between said collar and plunger, rotating with the plunger and causing through its acting tension rotation of said collar therewith.

7. A door check and closer comprising, in combination, a casing, a door supporting spindle and a plunger within the casing, the plunger acting to turn the spindle and having axial movement thereon against checking fluid to a positive terminal position in the checking fluid chamber, a door-closing spring for moving the plunger to its terminal position against checking fluid, a main relief passage for the checking combination, a casing, a door supporting spindle and a plunger forming a checking fluid chamber within the casing, the plunger having rotary movement and acting on the spindle to turn the same, and also having axial movement on the spindle against checking fluid within the chainber, means between the spindle and plunger providing a stop which limits axial movement of the plunger against checking fluid at a positive terminal position, a door closing spring for moving the plunger to its terminal position against checking fluid, main checking fluid relief means within the spindle having a port disposed to be closed by the plunger at about the positive terminal position of the plunger, and a valved relief passage the valve of which is arranged to-be automatically opened by the resistance of pressure fluid confined within said chamber against escape through the closing of said port.

9. A door check and closer having, in combination, a casing with a bottom part having an upwardly-presented socket, a vertical door supporting spindle rotatably disposed in the casing with its lower end disposed in said socket and upon anti-friction elements disposed therein, a plunger movable axially on the spindle, means between the plunger and spindle for causing rotation of these two parts together, a portion on the plunger forming upper and lower cam tracks, both within the casing, means fixed to the casing and engaging each of said cam tracks for controlling rotation of the plunger, spring means for forcing movement of the plunger against checking fluid towards said bottom part, a relief passage for checking fluid provided in the spindle and having a port with respect to which the plunger serves as a valve, and means providing a stop for limiting axial movement of the plunger against checking fluid at a positive terminal position with relation to the closing of said port by the plunger.

EMIL BOMMER. 

